Today we were
joined on our walk by some of my work colleagues and their
friends and family

Especially welcome
were Robert and Irene who emigrated 30 years ago and now live in
New Brunswick, Canada
- they are here in the UK for two weeks holiday - thankfully,
today the weather was kind to us and them

Today's walk began
at Lord Stones Cafe ( Grid Ref: 523 030 )

Lord Stones Cafe
boasts a convenient car park for the start of the many wonderful
walks in this area
- it is also a welcome resting and refreshment point for walkers
of the Cleveland Way which passes right by.
The cafe has been cleverly built into a small hillside without
detracting from the beauty of the countryside

Our first objective
was to climb the steep path up Cringle Moor, seen to the east
beyond
this pond near the cafe, by following the Cleveland Way

The climb takes its
toll as our group begins to stretch out
- our return track traverses Carlton Bank in the distance with a
glimpse of Whorl Hill (top right)

The first ones to
the top enjoy a rest on the memorial seat dedicated to Alec
Falconer ' who loved these hills '

The seat enjoys
spectacular views north across the Cleveland Plain
- a viewpoint indicator tells us exactly where we're looking

Here we see from
left to right - Alan, Joan, Robert, Anne and Irene
Alan, Anne and Irene are brother and sisters, Joan is Alan's wife
- as I mentioned before, Robert and Irene are here on holiday
from Canada

From Cringle Moor
we look further east to Cold Moor and Hasty Bank beyond - in the
far distance Urra Moor

The steep decent
down the eastern slopes of Cringle Moor

At the bottom of
the path we arrive at the remains of Donna Cross ( Grid Ref: 545 034 ) looking east, Cold Moor
beyond

On the north side
of the base (left on the photo) is carved the letter 'E' for the
Emmerson family of Easby
and on the south side 'F' for the Feversham family of Duncombe
Park, Helmsley

Just past Donna
Cross we leave the Cleveland Way and head south along this farm
access road in Raisdale

We follow this
track for a couple of miles before turning right and crossing a
stile
just before Stone Intake Farm ( Grid Ref: 543 006 ) and walk down
across a couple of meadows . . .

. . . until we
reach the quiet Raisdale Road between Chop Gate ( Chop 'Yat' to
locals ) and Carlton where
we turn right for a short while enjoying the bluebell clad
banksides, until turning left along the access road to . . .

. . . Raisdale Mill
part of which has been recently converted to holiday cottages . .

. . . and where the
resident peacock was today in fine form!

From Raisdale Mill
we climb up leafy Mill Lane to Bilsdale West Moor . .